Steen Funeral HomesJan 07, 2021 · January 13 – Tony Amdor January 14 – Taylor Knoll, Tyson...
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Steen Funeral Homes Massena Fontanelle Greenfield 712-779-2272 Todd & Lisa Lamb “Professionals Who Care” CUMBERLAND & MASSENA BUSINESS DIRECTORY Thursday, January 7, 2021 4 Cumberland & Massena Send your news to [email protected], fax to 712-762-4189, or call 762-4188 www.steenfunerals.com Subscribe To The Anita Tribune 712-762-4188 Serving Massena, Wiota, Mount Etna and Corning areas MASSENATELEPHONE.COM Massena Telephone Company | 211 Main Street | Massena, Iowa 50853 Home Phone Home Internet Business Phone Systems Online Bill Pay PROVIDED SERVICES (712) 779-2227 TO LEARN ABOUT OUR HOME INTERNET CALL TODAY Anita Monument Service - Since 1965 - Kenneth Harrison 762-3205 Monuments Markers Bronze Plates Final Dates Duplications Our Specialty Ph. 712-774-2221 Cumberland, Iowa Vickie, Devan, Julie, Jeremy CTC provides fiber to the home to the Cumberland Exchange, plus the towns of Fontanelle and Bridgewater MASSENA LIVESTOCK SALES Barn 712-779-3636 Mark: 712-779-0169 Allen: 712-779-0168 78 Main Street, Massena, Iowa www.massenalivestock.com REGULAR SALES WEDNESDAYS @ 12:30 LEGAL NOTICE 95th Birthday Card Shower Arlene Shaver of Atlantic will be celebrating her 95th birth- day on January 19, 2021, and her family is requesting a card shower in her honor. Send your greeting to her at 1300 E. 19th St., Atlantic, IA 50022. Massena Historical Society To Meet The Massena Historical Soci- ety will meet Monday, January 11 at 2 p.m. at the City Hall. Dean Hosfelt will share some Adams County history with the group. As it is a new year, dues of $5.00 are now due. Please send them to Mary Ellen or Beu- lah. You are welcome to visit us any time! Morningside College Dean’s List Morningside College Vice President for Academic Affairs Chris Spicer recently announced the 402 students named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester of the 2020-21 academic year. The Dean’s List recognizes Morningside College students who achieve a 3.67 grade point average or better and com- plete at least 12 credit hours of coursework with no grade below a “C-.” Isaac Bower of Massena was named to Morningside’s Dean’s List. Birthdays & Anniversaries January 10 – Titus Ingold January 11 – Karolyn Ortgies, Sarah Bishop, Nick McLaren, Tristan Greenwalt January 12 – Caren Green- walt, Courtney Bower January 13 – Tony Amdor January 14 – Taylor Knoll, Tyson Erickson, Madison Men- dez, McKenzie Waters January 15 – Shirley Eshel- man, Dannon Bitting January 16 – Tyson Green- walt, Brody Hatcher Massena City Council Proceedings Council Meeting, City Hall Monday, December 14, 2020 Mayor Phil Przychodzin called the regular meeting to order at 5:49 p.m. Council members present: Jack Bissell, Micah Lee, Adam McCunn, Kevin Mc- Cunn and Doug Venteicher. Due to orders by Governor Reynolds concerning the COVID-19 pandemic, the agenda had this message posted more than 24 hours in advance to give instruc- tions on how others could participate in the meeting: You may participate in this meeting electronically by calling 1-877- 252-6114, access code 0035636. Employees: Shana Platt. Visitors: Jen- nifer Erickson. Electronic visitors: none. Motion by A. McCunn, second by J. Bissell to approve the consent agenda. Ayes – all. Motion carried. Jennifer Erickson, Massena Public Li- brary Director, requested that the library credit card limit be raised to $1,200.00. Motion by D. Venteciher, second by J. Bissell. Ayes – all. Motion carried. Motion by M. Lee, second by J. Bis- sell to approve the Treasurer’s Report. Ayes – all. Motion carried. Motion by J. Bissell, second by M. Lee to approve minutes correction for 8/17/20. Ayes – all. Motion carried. Motion by A. McCunn, second by K. McCunn to approve the Designated Healthcare Provider Policy. Ayes – all. Motion carried. Motion by J. Bissell, second by M. Lee to approve Main Street Bar Liquor License renewal. Ayes – all. Motion car- ried. Tax abatement discussion. Motion by A. McCunn, second by D. Venteicher to approve Ordinance #20- 35, Establishing an Urban Revitalization Area. Ayes – all. Motion carried. Motion by J. Bissell, second by M. Lee to waive 2nd and 3rd readings of Ordinance #20-35. Ayes – all. Motion carried. Motion by M. Lee, second by K. McCunn to approve Resolution #20-36 Adopting Proposed Urban Revitalization Plan and Setting Public Hearing Date for 2/8/21 at 5:45 p.m. Motion by A. McCunn, second by J. Bissell to approve Story Construction Pay Application for $204,555.41. Ayes – all. Motion carried. Mayor Przycho- dzin updated the Council on the Sewer Lagoon Project. Motion by A. McCunn, second by D. Venteicher to approve Biehn Construc- tion Pay Application for $12,760.00. Ayes – all. Motion carried. Motion by D. Venteicher, second by M. Lee to purchase folding stop signs for 6th and E. Cedar, along with flashing beacons. Ayes – all. Motion carried. Motion by J. Bissell, second by A. McCunn to approve payments to con- tractors totaling $13,696 for LMI grant project at 102 W. 5th St. Ayes – all. Mo- tion carried. Discussion on future of LMI grant program. Motion by J. Bissell, second by K. McCunn to allocate up to $15,000 per grant approval, with a maximum program expense of $75,000 in a fiscal year. Ayes – all. Motion carried. Motion by M. Lee, second by D. Venteicher to set the public hearing date for the status of funded activities for the CDBG project for 1/11/21 at 7:00 p.m. Ayes – all. Motion carried. Next regular council meeting 1/11/21 at 5:45 p.m. Motion to adjourn made by D. Ven- teicher at 7:16 p.m., seconded by J. Bis- sell. Ayes – all. Motion carried. Phil Przychodzin, Mayor Attest: Shana Platt, City Clerk/CFO CLAIMS PAID November 2020 Kimball Midwest, Supplies – sewer ....................220.00 Cass Co. Landfill & Recycling, Quarterly fee .......................1,065.00 Verizon Wireless, Serv . ................40.01 Municipal Supply, Invoices ............................10,015.72 IMWCA, Work Comp. premium adjustment ...........1,037.00 Northland Securities, Fin. planning services .........1,000.00 Hawkins, Water supplies ............543.20 Shana T. Platt, Mileage IMFOA fall ’20 ........................80.50 Underground Specialty, LLC, Hydro vac rental ....................600.00 Bower Welding, Drain boxes.........................1,266.84 Cappel’s Ace, Acct. #145 ...........281.23 City of Atlantic, Lab results (sewer) ................780.00 Badger Meter, 1 Orion Cellular unit ...........................208.26 Massena Telephone Co., Phone & Internet chgs. ..........264.39 Anita Tribune, Proceedings ...........................230.96 Mosquito Control of Iowa, 2020 package ......................2,400.00 Biehn Construction, LLC, Concrete approach ..............3,197.90 Verizon Wireless, Serv . ................91.00 QuickBooks Payroll Service, Payroll service .........................46.17 QuickBooks Payroll Service, Payroll service .......................910.02 21st Century Coop, Fuel ............338.80 Henningsen Construction, Cold patch...........................1,148.40 Jacobsen, Inc., Water line supplies .................. 11.50 Economy Food Market, Supplies ...................................92.32 Alliant Energy, Electrical service ................2,342.73 State Hygienic Lab – AR, Lab tests ...................................33.50 Quick Med Claims, Ground trips .............................43.41 Namanny, LLC, Hauling cold patch-street repairs.................135.00 Atlantic News Telegraph, Publication ...............................28.82 APCO Construction, Rock for storm tube project .........1,196.00 Biehn Construction, LLC, City Park restroom..............2,300.00 Adams Co. Electrical Cont., City Park project .................1,435.00 United States Treasury, 42-6022717 .........................2,675.82 IPERS......................................2,271.50 Black Hills/Iowa Gas Util. Co., Service ...................................345.55 Verizon Wireless, Serv . ................40.01 Alliant Energy, Electrical service ...................376.31 Hach Company, Inv. #12197079 ......................224.34 IPERS......................................2,093.68 Gerlock, Clarke & Rebeka, Utility dep. refund ...................75.00 AgriVision Equip., LLC, S&H, parts ...............................69.41 QuickBooks Payroll Service, Payroll service .......................896.37 Story Construction Co., Massena WW treatment Pay app. #2 .....................328,060.02 Wheatley Sanitation, Garbage Customers (Nov. 2020).......3,003.00 City of Atlantic, Brainfuse .................................85.00 Visa, Card payment .................1,015.30 Alliant Energy, Electrical service ...................663.00 Certified Testing Serv., Inc., Soil testing ..........................7,688.75 JEO, Invoice #120074...........13,649.00 SWIPCO, Inv. #1176-6 ..............775.00 Visa, Library card pymt. ..............56.21 Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Sh., 610918 ................................4,414.85 TOTAL ................................401,861.80 Save Time And Increase Success By Creating A Garden Calendar Check the back of the seed packet to determine when to start seeds indoors and when to move the transplants into the garden. Photo by MelindaMyers.com By Melinda Myers Ringing in the New Year is filled with resolutions that usual- ly involve dieting and exercise. Gardening is a great way to help accomplish those two resolu- tions, while also improving your mood, reducing blood pressure, managing anger, maintaining flexibility and much more. So, gather anyone that shares in your gardening efforts and landscape projects. Grab a cal- endar and make some gardening plans for the year ahead. Consid- er including a monthly project that you all can share and one that moves you closer to your long-term gardening and land- scaping goals. Start the year right by grow- ing some microgreens. They are quick, easy and require no spe- cial equipment. Plus, recent re- search found that many contain as much as 25 times more nu- trients as the leaves of the full- grown plant. Take some time to invento- ry your current seed collection. Decide what seeds you want to keep and grow this season and those you want to pass along to gardening friends. You may choose to make seed art with older or improperly stored seeds and invest in fresh seeds that are sure to germinate. Once you complete your in- ventory, review new catalogs, and make a list of seeds and plants you want to include this year. Order early for the great- est selection and availability. A recent increase in gardeners means more people shopping for the seeds and plants you want to buy. While you wait for your seed order to arrive, prepare a space and organize supplies for start- ing any seeds indoors as needed. Clear a space, check your grow lights and gather the needed seed starting mix and clean con- tainers. Soak used containers in a one-part bleach and 9-parts water solution for ten minutes. Then rinse with clear water be- fore reusing them this year. Once you know what you want to grow, it is time to create a seed-starting calendar. Check the catalogue, University Ex- tension recommendations, and back of the packet to determine when you need to start the seeds indoors or out. Include dates for starting seeds indoors and directly in the garden. Note the recommended date for moving transplants into the garden. Add in time as needed to harden off transplants. Gradually introduc- ing plants to the garden environ- ment over a two-week period reduces transplant shock and increases your success. Mark your calendar for peak harvest time in your region. Make sure to allow sufficient time for harvesting and pre- serving. Supplement your own harvest with produce from farmer’s markets and pick-your- own farms. Most post expected picking and produce availability dates on their website, so you can plan ahead. As the season begins, confirm picking times and invite family and friends for a harvest and preservation party. Record all this information on your calendar, garden chart or a spreadsheet to help keep your gardening efforts on track. This will also help you identify the best time to embark on larger landscaping projects or hire a plant sitter when you are away from the garden. Make this the year you resolve to accomplish your gardening goals in a timely manner. You’ll maximize your harvest, enjoy- ment and other gardening ben- efits. Melinda Myers is the au- thor of more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Any- thing” DVD series and the na- tionally-syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and her website is www.MelindaMyers. com. Resolve to Green Your Grocery Shopping in 2021 (StatePoint) In our grab-and-go culture, plastic is pervasive at the grocery store. But as more super- markets worldwide adopt smart strategies for reducing single-use plastic packaging, experts say that these same changes are possible here in the U.S., so long as retail- ers, companies and individuals commit to making them a reality. “It’s time to build smarter su- permarkets,” says Kate Melges, plastics campaigner, Greenpeace. “We’re starting to see examples of retailers moving away from throwaway packaging, but not at the urgency and scale needed to address this crisis.” A new report from Greenpeace, “The Smart Supermarket,” travels through a hypothetical grocery store to explore how single-use packaging-free initiatives can be implemented in every aisle, as well as details the benefits each change would have on consumers and retailers. As you head into a new year and possibly resolve to reduce your environmental impact, con- sider these report insights: • “Nude” food: Plastic-wrapped produce creates needless packag- ing waste and potentially leads to wasted food, as consumers are required to buy portion sizes they may not need. “Nude” food lets you buy exactly what you need. For those products that do require packaging, stores and consumers should consider natural alterna- tives, such as banana leaves tied with bamboo twine. • Bulk staples: Smart dispens- ing systems for such shelf-stable foods as rice, beans and lentils, allow customers to buy the quan- tities they need and can afford. And when customers dispense products into reusable containers they’ve brought from home or are supplied by the store, the system can eliminate single-use packag- ing. • Refillable personal and home products: While the public is be- coming aware of the need for re- usable shopping bags and coffee cups, there’s less awareness about alternatives to single-use plastics for beauty and cleaning supplies. Refill stations on favorite sham- poos, dish soaps and more can substantially reduce plastic waste. • Smarter takeout: Many gro- cery stores have to-go options like salad bars and hot food counters. At a smart supermarket, take- out will not mean throwaway. Technology is at the heart of the concept, with customers using an app to collect rewards when they return reusable cups and contain- ers. This is great for stores who want to establish brand loyalty, and great for customers who want kickbacks and to reduce their plastic use. • Sustainable checkout: Five trillion single-use plastic bags will be used this year alone -- that is 160,000 bags per second. Pro- viding durable, reusable bags at checkout through a rent-a-bag scheme is an easy way for stores to reverse this trend. • Mindful online shopping: Buy your groceries online? A num- ber of online retailers are already dropping off and collecting reus- able containers via more sustain- able transport. A smart supermar- ket can follow the same model. For more information on how to help build a smarter supermar- ket, visit: greenpeace.org/usa/ research/report-the-smart-super- market. Without decisive action, plas- tic production is set to quadruple by 2050. This new year, advo- cates say that everyone can re- solve to do their part to stem the tide, with retailers and consumer goods companies cooperating to create eco-friendly solutions, and consumers demanding these alter- natives and opting for them when they become available.
Transcript of Steen Funeral HomesJan 07, 2021 · January 13 – Tony Amdor January 14 – Taylor Knoll, Tyson...
SteenFuneralHomes
MassenaFontanelleGreenfield
712-779-2272Todd & Lisa Lamb
“Professionals Who Care”
CUMBERLAND & MASSENA
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
Thursday, January 7, 2021 4Cumberland & Massena
Send your news to [email protected],fax to 712-762-4189, or call 762-4188
www.steenfunerals.comSubscribe To The
Anita Tribune 712-762-4188
Serving Massena, Wiota, Mount Etna and Corning areas
MASSENATELEPHONE.COMMassena Telephone Company | 211 Main Street | Massena, Iowa 50853
Home PhoneHome Internet
Business Phone SystemsOnline Bill Pay
PROVIDED SERVICES
(712) 779-2227TO LEARN ABOUT OUR HOME INTERNET CALL
TODAYAnita
MonumentService
- Since 1965 -Kenneth Harrison
762-3205
MonumentsMarkers
Bronze PlatesFinal Dates
DuplicationsOur Specialty
Ph. 712-774-2221Cumberland, Iowa
Vickie, Devan, Julie, Jeremy
CTC provides fiber to the home to the
Cumberland Exchange, plus the towns of Fontanelle and
Bridgewater
MASSENA LIVESTOCK SALES
Barn 712-779-3636Mark: 712-779-0169 Allen: 712-779-0168
78 Main Street, Massena, Iowa
www.massenalivestock.com
REGULAR SALES WEDNESDAYS @ 12:30
LEGAL NOTICE95th Birthday Card Shower
Arlene Shaver of Atlantic will be celebrating her 95th birth-day on January 19, 2021, and her family is requesting a card shower in her honor. Send your greeting to her at 1300 E. 19th St., Atlantic, IA 50022.
Massena Historical Society To Meet
The Massena Historical Soci-ety will meet Monday, January 11 at 2 p.m. at the City Hall. Dean Hosfelt will share some Adams County history with the group. As it is a new year, dues of $5.00 are now due. Please send them to Mary Ellen or Beu-lah.
You are welcome to visit us any time!
Morningside College Dean’s List
Morningside College Vice President for Academic Affairs Chris Spicer recently announced the 402 students named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester of the 2020-21 academic year.
The Dean’s List recognizes Morningside College students who achieve a 3.67 grade point average or better and com-plete at least 12 credit hours of coursework with no grade below a “C-.”
Isaac Bower of Massena was named to Morningside’s Dean’s List.
Birthdays & Anniversaries
January 10 – Titus IngoldJanuary 11 – Karolyn Ortgies,
Sarah Bishop, Nick McLaren, Tristan Greenwalt
January 12 – Caren Green-walt, Courtney Bower
January 13 – Tony AmdorJanuary 14 – Taylor Knoll,
Tyson Erickson, Madison Men-dez, McKenzie Waters
January 15 – Shirley Eshel-man, Dannon Bitting
January 16 – Tyson Green-walt, Brody Hatcher
Massena City Council Proceedings
Council Meeting, City HallMonday, December 14, 2020
Mayor Phil Przychodzin called the regular meeting to order at 5:49 p.m. Council members present: Jack Bissell, Micah Lee, Adam McCunn, Kevin Mc-Cunn and Doug Venteicher.
Due to orders by Governor Reynolds concerning the COVID-19 pandemic, the agenda had this message posted more than 24 hours in advance to give instruc-tions on how others could participate in the meeting: You may participate in this meeting electronically by calling 1-877-252-6114, access code 0035636.
Employees: Shana Platt. Visitors: Jen-nifer Erickson. Electronic visitors: none.
Motion by A. McCunn, second by J. Bissell to approve the consent agenda. Ayes – all. Motion carried.
Jennifer Erickson, Massena Public Li-brary Director, requested that the library credit card limit be raised to $1,200.00. Motion by D. Venteciher, second by J. Bissell. Ayes – all. Motion carried.
Motion by M. Lee, second by J. Bis-sell to approve the Treasurer’s Report. Ayes – all. Motion carried.
Motion by J. Bissell, second by M. Lee to approve minutes correction for 8/17/20. Ayes – all. Motion carried.
Motion by A. McCunn, second by K. McCunn to approve the Designated Healthcare Provider Policy. Ayes – all. Motion carried.
Motion by J. Bissell, second by M. Lee to approve Main Street Bar Liquor License renewal. Ayes – all. Motion car-ried.
Tax abatement discussion.Motion by A. McCunn, second by D.
Venteicher to approve Ordinance #20-35, Establishing an Urban Revitalization Area. Ayes – all. Motion carried.
Motion by J. Bissell, second by M. Lee to waive 2nd and 3rd readings of Ordinance #20-35. Ayes – all. Motion carried.
Motion by M. Lee, second by K. McCunn to approve Resolution #20-36 Adopting Proposed Urban Revitalization Plan and Setting Public Hearing Date for 2/8/21 at 5:45 p.m.
Motion by A. McCunn, second by J. Bissell to approve Story Construction Pay Application for $204,555.41. Ayes – all. Motion carried. Mayor Przycho-dzin updated the Council on the Sewer Lagoon Project.
Motion by A. McCunn, second by D. Venteicher to approve Biehn Construc-tion Pay Application for $12,760.00. Ayes – all. Motion carried.
Motion by D. Venteicher, second by M. Lee to purchase folding stop signs for 6th and E. Cedar, along with flashing beacons. Ayes – all. Motion carried.
Motion by J. Bissell, second by A. McCunn to approve payments to con-tractors totaling $13,696 for LMI grant project at 102 W. 5th St. Ayes – all. Mo-tion carried.
Discussion on future of LMI grant program. Motion by J. Bissell, second by K. McCunn to allocate up to $15,000 per grant approval, with a maximum program expense of $75,000 in a fiscal year. Ayes – all. Motion carried.
Motion by M. Lee, second by D. Venteicher to set the public hearing date for the status of funded activities for the CDBG project for 1/11/21 at 7:00 p.m. Ayes – all. Motion carried.
Next regular council meeting 1/11/21 at 5:45 p.m.
Motion to adjourn made by D. Ven-teicher at 7:16 p.m., seconded by J. Bis-sell. Ayes – all. Motion carried. P h i l Przychodzin,
MayorAttest: Shana Platt,City Clerk/CFO
CLAIMS PAIDNovember 2020
Kimball Midwest, Supplies – sewer ....................220.00Cass Co. Landfill & Recycling, Quarterly fee .......................1,065.00Verizon Wireless, Serv. ................40.01Municipal Supply, Invoices ............................10,015.72IMWCA, Work Comp. premium adjustment ...........1,037.00Northland Securities, Fin. planning services .........1,000.00Hawkins, Water supplies ............543.20Shana T. Platt, Mileage IMFOA fall ’20 ........................80.50Underground Specialty, LLC, Hydro vac rental ....................600.00Bower Welding, Drain boxes .........................1,266.84Cappel’s Ace, Acct. #145 ...........281.23City of Atlantic, Lab results (sewer) ................780.00Badger Meter, 1 Orion Cellular unit ...........................208.26Massena Telephone Co., Phone & Internet chgs. ..........264.39Anita Tribune, Proceedings ...........................230.96Mosquito Control of Iowa, 2020 package ......................2,400.00Biehn Construction, LLC, Concrete approach ..............3,197.90Verizon Wireless, Serv. ................91.00QuickBooks Payroll Service,
Payroll service .........................46.17QuickBooks Payroll Service, Payroll service .......................910.0221st Century Coop, Fuel ............338.80Henningsen Construction, Cold patch ...........................1,148.40Jacobsen, Inc., Water line supplies ..................11.50Economy Food Market, Supplies ...................................92.32Alliant Energy, Electrical service ................2,342.73State Hygienic Lab – AR, Lab tests ...................................33.50Quick Med Claims, Ground trips .............................43.41Namanny, LLC, Hauling cold patch-street repairs.................135.00Atlantic News Telegraph, Publication ...............................28.82APCO Construction, Rock for storm tube project .........1,196.00Biehn Construction, LLC, City Park restroom ..............2,300.00Adams Co. Electrical Cont., City Park project .................1,435.00United States Treasury, 42-6022717 .........................2,675.82IPERS ......................................2,271.50Black Hills/Iowa Gas Util. Co., Service ...................................345.55Verizon Wireless, Serv. ................40.01Alliant Energy, Electrical service ...................376.31Hach Company, Inv. #12197079 ......................224.34IPERS ......................................2,093.68Gerlock, Clarke & Rebeka, Utility dep. refund ...................75.00AgriVision Equip., LLC, S&H, parts ...............................69.41QuickBooks Payroll Service, Payroll service .......................896.37Story Construction Co., Massena WW treatment Pay app. #2 .....................328,060.02Wheatley Sanitation, Garbage Customers (Nov. 2020) .......3,003.00City of Atlantic, Brainfuse .................................85.00Visa, Card payment .................1,015.30Alliant Energy, Electrical service ...................663.00Certified Testing Serv., Inc., Soil testing ..........................7,688.75JEO, Invoice #120074 ...........13,649.00SWIPCO, Inv. #1176-6 ..............775.00Visa, Library card pymt. ..............56.21Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Sh., 610918 ................................4,414.85TOTAL ................................401,861.80
Save Time And Increase Success By Creating A Garden Calendar
Check the back of the seed packet to determine when to start seeds indoors and when to move the transplants into the garden. Photo by MelindaMyers.com
By Melinda MyersRinging in the New Year is
filled with resolutions that usual-ly involve dieting and exercise. Gardening is a great way to help accomplish those two resolu-tions, while also improving your mood, reducing blood pressure, managing anger, maintaining flexibility and much more.
So, gather anyone that shares in your gardening efforts and landscape projects. Grab a cal-endar and make some gardening plans for the year ahead. Consid-er including a monthly project that you all can share and one that moves you closer to your long-term gardening and land-scaping goals.
Start the year right by grow-ing some microgreens. They are quick, easy and require no spe-cial equipment. Plus, recent re-search found that many contain as much as 25 times more nu-trients as the leaves of the full-grown plant.
Take some time to invento-ry your current seed collection. Decide what seeds you want to keep and grow this season and those you want to pass along to gardening friends. You may choose to make seed art with older or improperly stored seeds and invest in fresh seeds that are sure to germinate.
Once you complete your in-ventory, review new catalogs, and make a list of seeds and plants you want to include this year. Order early for the great-est selection and availability. A recent increase in gardeners means more people shopping for the seeds and plants you want to buy.
While you wait for your seed order to arrive, prepare a space and organize supplies for start-ing any seeds indoors as needed. Clear a space, check your grow lights and gather the needed
seed starting mix and clean con-tainers. Soak used containers in a one-part bleach and 9-parts water solution for ten minutes. Then rinse with clear water be-fore reusing them this year.
Once you know what you want to grow, it is time to create a seed-starting calendar. Check the catalogue, University Ex-tension recommendations, and back of the packet to determine when you need to start the seeds indoors or out. Include dates for starting seeds indoors and directly in the garden. Note the recommended date for moving transplants into the garden. Add in time as needed to harden off transplants. Gradually introduc-ing plants to the garden environ-ment over a two-week period reduces transplant shock and increases your success.
Mark your calendar for peak harvest time in your region. Make sure to allow sufficient time for harvesting and pre-serving. Supplement your own harvest with produce from farmer’s markets and pick-your-own farms. Most post expected picking and produce availability dates on their website, so you can plan ahead. As the season begins, confirm picking times and invite family and friends for a harvest and preservation party.
Record all this information on your calendar, garden chart or a spreadsheet to help keep your gardening efforts on track. This will also help you identify the best time to embark on larger landscaping projects or hire a plant sitter when you are away from the garden.
Make this the year you resolve to accomplish your gardening goals in a timely manner. You’ll maximize your harvest, enjoy-ment and other gardening ben-efits.
Melinda Myers is the au-thor of more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Any-thing” DVD series and the na-tionally-syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and her website is www.MelindaMyers.com.
Resolve to Green Your Grocery Shopping in 2021
(StatePoint) In our grab-and-go culture, plastic is pervasive at the grocery store. But as more super-markets worldwide adopt smart strategies for reducing single-use plastic packaging, experts say that these same changes are possible here in the U.S., so long as retail-ers, companies and individuals commit to making them a reality.
“It’s time to build smarter su-permarkets,” says Kate Melges, plastics campaigner, Greenpeace. “We’re starting to see examples of retailers moving away from throwaway packaging, but not at the urgency and scale needed to address this crisis.”
A new report from Greenpeace, “The Smart Supermarket,” travels through a hypothetical grocery store to explore how single-use packaging-free initiatives can be implemented in every aisle, as well as details the benefits each change would have on consumers and retailers.
As you head into a new year and possibly resolve to reduce your environmental impact, con-sider these report insights:
• “Nude” food: Plastic-wrapped produce creates needless packag-ing waste and potentially leads to wasted food, as consumers are required to buy portion sizes they may not need. “Nude” food lets you buy exactly what you need. For those products that do require packaging, stores and consumers should consider natural alterna-tives, such as banana leaves tied with bamboo twine.
• Bulk staples: Smart dispens-ing systems for such shelf-stable foods as rice, beans and lentils, allow customers to buy the quan-tities they need and can afford. And when customers dispense products into reusable containers they’ve brought from home or are supplied by the store, the system can eliminate single-use packag-ing.
• Refillable personal and home products: While the public is be-coming aware of the need for re-usable shopping bags and coffee cups, there’s less awareness about alternatives to single-use plastics for beauty and cleaning supplies. Refill stations on favorite sham-poos, dish soaps and more can substantially reduce plastic waste.
• Smarter takeout: Many gro-cery stores have to-go options like salad bars and hot food counters. At a smart supermarket, take-out will not mean throwaway. Technology is at the heart of the concept, with customers using an app to collect rewards when they return reusable cups and contain-ers. This is great for stores who want to establish brand loyalty, and great for customers who want kickbacks and to reduce their plastic use.
• Sustainable checkout: Five trillion single-use plastic bags will be used this year alone -- that is 160,000 bags per second. Pro-viding durable, reusable bags at checkout through a rent-a-bag scheme is an easy way for stores to reverse this trend.
• Mindful online shopping: Buy your groceries online? A num-ber of online retailers are already dropping off and collecting reus-able containers via more sustain-able transport. A smart supermar-ket can follow the same model.
For more information on how to help build a smarter supermar-ket, visit: greenpeace.org/usa/research/report-the-smart-super-market.
Without decisive action, plas-tic production is set to quadruple by 2050. This new year, advo-cates say that everyone can re-solve to do their part to stem the tide, with retailers and consumer goods companies cooperating to create eco-friendly solutions, and consumers demanding these alter-natives and opting for them when they become available.
